About
"I can't write a character unless I love them. And if I love them, it means that I've taken their flaws and their faults, too. I wish I could do that 100% in real life."
In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Treva Silverman talks about her early interests and the first time she recalls getting a laugh, at age six. She describes her early career in comedy, writing for television specials and working as a writer for Joan Rivers. She discusses her work as a writer on the popular 1960s series The Monkees, commenting on the characterizations created for each performer and the process of writing series episodes. She speaks about her writing for the 1960s series Captain Nice and He & She, both of which were well-received but short-lived, as well as the landmark drama Room 222. Silverman speaks in great detail about The Mary Tyler Moore Show, for which she won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series and Writer of the Year (Series) in 1974. She talks about working with series creators James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and the fact that the show observed no pecking order with the writers ("the best line wins"). She talks about the creation of the "Georgette" character (played by Georgia Engel) and many of "Rhoda's" (Valerie Harper) traits and storylines being based on her own personal life. She details such classic episodes as "Today I Am a Ma'am," "Rhoda the Beautiful," and "The Lou and Edie Story." She then talks about her semi-retirement from writing and her later contributions to writing television and films. Allan Neuwirth conducted the interview on September 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Treva Silverman on writing for the variety series The Entertainers, starring Carol Burnett
Treva Silverman on winning a Writers Guild Award for writing a special on Norman Rockwell
Treva Silverman on the challenges of being the only female on the writing staff of The Dean Martin Show
Treva Silverman on creating the character of "Georgette," played by Georgia Engel, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on writing for Room 222 for producer James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on working with Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her early exposure to the entertainment world, and on being a child musical prodigy; on her earliest experiences seeing television
On meeting Joan Rivers; on meeting James L. Brooks; on writing for the variety series The Entertainers, starring Carol Burnett
Chapter 2
On writing for The Dean Martin Show; on the challenges of being the only female on the writing staff of The Dean Martin Show
On writing for The Monkees; on The Monkees producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider; on being the only female writer to work on The Monkees
On the songs of The Monkees, and on the popularity of the show; on using a pen-name on an episode of The Monkees; on specific episodes of The Monkees she wrote
On The Monkees winning Emmy Awards, and on the end of the show; on writing for Captain Nice, created by Buck Henry
Chapter 3
On decisions made on The Monkees being influenced by the Marx Brothers' "controlled comic anarchy"; on Captain Nice with Buck Henry; on writing for Get Smart and He & She
On winning a Writers Guild Award for writing a special on Norman Rockwell; on writing on Room 222 for producer James L. Brooks; on how she came to write for The Mary Tyler Moore Show for James L. Brooks
Chapter 4
On writing for That Girl, starring Marlo Thomas; on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Rhoda Morgenstern," played by Valerie Harper, and on the female characters of the show; on the male writing staff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and helping them write for female characters
On the development of the characters on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on creating the character of "Georgette," played by Georgia Engel, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
On working with James L. Brooks on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on working with Grant Tinker on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on working with Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Chapter 5
On Jay Sandrich directing The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on writing the The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Rhoda the Beautiful"; on writing the The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "The Lou and Edie Story," featuring Ed Asner as "Lou Grant"
On writing for great actors like the ones on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on winning the "Super" Emmy Award for writing "The Lou and Edie Story" for The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on how The Mary Tyler Moore Show reflected its era and on leaving the show
On then-current projects; on how the role of women has changed since she started in television; on advice to aspiring comedy writers
On what she would like to be remembered for; on being the first female writer to win an Emmy Award; on her involvement in the feature film "Romancing the Stone"
Shows
Captain Nice
Treva Silverman on writing for Captain Nice, created by Buck Henry
Treva Silverman on Captain Nice, created by Buck Henry
Dean Martin Show, The
Treva Silverman on writing for The Dean Martin Show
Treva Silverman on the challenges of being the only female on the writing staff of The Dean Martin Show
Entertainers, The
Treva Silverman on writing for the variety series The Entertainers, starring Carol Burnett
Get Smart
Treva Silverman on writing for Get Smart and He & She
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Treva Silverman on how she came to write for The Mary Tyler Moore Show for James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Rhoda Morgenstern," played by Valerie Harper, and on the female characters of the show
Treva Silverman on the male writing staff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and helping them write for female characters
Treva Silverman on the development of the characters on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on creating the character of "Georgette," played by Georgia Engel, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on working with James L. Brooks on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on working with Grant Tinker on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on working with Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on Jay Sandrich directing The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on writing the The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Rhoda the Beautiful"
Treva Silverman on writing the The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "The Lou and Edie Story," featuring Ed Asner as "Lou Grant"
Treva Silverman on writing for great actors like the ones on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on submitting Mary Tyler Moore Show scripts for Emmy consideration
Treva Silverman on winning the "Super" Emmy Award for writing "The Lou and Edie Story" for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on how The Mary Tyler Moore Show reflected its era, and on leaving the show
Monkees, The
Treva Silverman on writing for The Monkees
Treva Silverman on The Monkees producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider
Treva Silverman on being the only female writer to work on The Monkees
Treva Silverman on the songs of The Monkees, and on the popularity of the show
Treva Silverman on using a pen-name on an episode of The Monkees
Treva Silverman on specific episodes of The Monkees she wrote
Treva Silverman on The Monkees winning Emmy Awards, and on the end of the show
Treva Silverman on decisions made on The Monkees being influenced by the Marx Brothers' "controlled comic anarchy"
Room 222
Treva Silverman on writing on Room 222 for producer James L. Brooks
That Girl
Treva Silverman on writing for That Girl, starring Marlo Thomas
Topics
Advice
Treva Silverman on advice to aspiring comedy writers
Characters & Catchphrases
Treva Silverman on creating the character of "Georgette," played by Georgia Engel, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Emmy Awards
Treva Silverman on The Monkees winning Emmys, and on the end of the show
Treva Silverman on being the first female writer to win an Emmy
Treva Silverman on winning the "Super Emmy" for writing "The Lou and Edie Story" for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on submitting Mary Tyler Moore Show scripts for Emmy consideration
First Big Break
Treva Silverman on writing for the variety series The Entertainers, starring Carol Burnett
Historic Events and Social Change
Treva Silverman on the challenges of being the only female on the writing staff of The Dean Martin Show
Treva Silverman on being the only female writer to work on The Monkees
Treva Silverman on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Rhoda Morgenstern," played by Valerie Harper, and on the female characters of the show
Treva Silverman on the male writing staff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and helping them write for female characters
Treva Silverman on how the role of women has changed since she started in television
Treva Silverman on being the first female writer to win an Emmy Award
Pivotal Career Moments
Treva Silverman on writing for the variety series The Entertainers, starring Carol Burnett
Pop Culture
Treva Silverman on creating the character of "Georgette," played by Georgia Engel, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Representation on Television
Treva Silverman on the challenges of being the only female on the writing staff of The Dean Martin Show
Treva Silverman on being the only female writer to work on The Monkees
Treva Silverman on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Rhoda Morgenstern," played by Valerie Harper, and on the female characters of the show
Treva Silverman on the male writing staff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and helping them write for female characters
Treva Silverman on how the role of women has changed since she started in television
Treva Silverman on being the first female writer to win an Emmy Award
Television Industry
Treva Silverman on advice to aspiring comedy writers
Women
Treva Silverman on the challenges of being the only female on the writing staff of The Dean Martin Show
Treva Silverman on being the only female writer to work on The Monkees
Treva Silverman on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Rhoda Morgenstern," played by Valerie Harper, and on the female characters of the show
Treva Silverman on the male writing staff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and helping them write for female characters
Treva Silverman on how the role of women has changed since she started in television
Treva Silverman on being the first female writer to win an Emmy Award
Professions
Writers
Treva Silverman on the development of the characters on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on writing for great actors like the ones on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on advice to aspiring comedy writers
Genres
Comedy Series
Treva Silverman on writing for The Monkees
Treva Silverman on writing for Captain Nice, created by Buck Henry
Treva Silverman on decisions made on The Monkees being influenced by the Marx Brothers' "controlled comic anarchy"
Treva Silverman on Captain Nice
Treva Silverman on writing for Get Smart and He & She
Treva Silverman on writing on Room 222 for producer James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on how she came to write for The Mary Tyler Moore Show for James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on writing for The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Treva Silverman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Treva Silverman on writing for The Dean Martin Show
People
Edward Asner
on writing the The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "The Lou and Edie Story," featuring Ed Asner as "Lou Grant"
James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on meeting James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on writing for Room 222 for producer James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on how she came to write for The Mary Tyler Moore Show for James L. Brooks
Treva Silverman on working with James L. Brooks on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Carol Burnett
Treva Silverman on writing for the variety series The Entertainers starring Carol Burnett
Georgia Engel
Treva Silverman on creating the character of "Georgette," played by Georgia Engel, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Valerie Harper
Treva Silverman on writing The Mary Tyler Moore Show's "Rhoda Morgenstern," played by Valerie Harper, and on the female characters of the show
Buck Henry
Treva Silverman on writing for Captain Nice, created by Buck Henry
Treva Silverman on working on Buck Henry's Captain Nice
Dean Martin
Treva Silverman on writing for The Dean Martin Show
Mary Tyler Moore
Treva Silverman on working with Mary Tyler Moore on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Joan Rivers
Treva Silverman on meeting Joan Rivers
Jay Sandrich
Treva Silverman on Jay Sandrich directing The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Marlo Thomas
Treva Silverman on writing for That Girl, starring Marlo Thomas
Grant Tinker
Treva Silverman on working with Grant Tinker on The Mary Tyler Moore Show